ProtonUp-Qt Gets a Major Update, Fixes Architecture Detection and Swaps Compatibility Layers
DavidoTek releases v2.15.1 with ARM support improvements, proton-cachyos integration, and streamlined installs for Linux gamers.
DavidoTek just pushed ProtonUp-Qt v2.15.1 to GitHub. The GUI tool has long been the manual override for Linux gamers who are tired of wrestling with Proton compatibility layers. This update finally stops the app from blindly downloading x86_64 builds for ARM devices.
If you're running a Steam Deck, a Framework Laptop, or any Linux handheld, that architecture mix-up was a quiet pain point. The new version now correctly detects aarch64 versus x86_64 before pulling GE-Proton files. It also switches the Luxtorpeda source to Codeberg and drops Proton-Sarek entirely in favor of proton-cachyos. That last change applies to both Steam and Lutris setups.
What's Actually New
The changelog is lean, but it hits the practical marks. DavidoTek wired proton-cachyos straight into the Lutris config menu. Desktop gamers who don't want to juggle multiple Wine prefixes will appreciate the change. It's a rather heavy download for a utility that just manages config files, though the gamepad navigation and ARM fixes do help it somewhat.
The release notes claim testing on Ubuntu 18.04, Fedora 34, and Manjaro 20.2. Most of us are already past those versions. The Steam Deck's Proton ecosystem shifted again this week. Valve quietly pushed a new runtime. Community layers are constantly racing to patch regressions now. ProtonUp-Qt sits right in that middle ground. It doesn't replace Valve's toolchain, but it gives you a fallback when default Proton starts choking on a specific Windows port.
How to Get It
You'll find quickstart videos from Intelligent Gaming, G's Multiverse, and Brodie Robertson linked in the repo. Head here to the GitHub releases page if you need proton-cachyos for Lutris. Or just want to keep your Proton-GE builds from rotting. The Linux gaming stack moves fast. Keeping a manual update tool in your belt just makes sense.
Grabbing the update is straightforward. Flathub will get the package shortly. You can pull the AppImage directly from the GitHub release page below right now. Keep in mind that the AppImage is released as a temporary artifact due to a broken GitHub Actions workflow. DavidoTek forced a manual release for this round. The auto-generator is coming back.
Release ProtonUp-Qt v2.15.1
GUI for installing and updating Proton-GE for Steam and Wine-based compatibility tools like Wine-GE for Lutris. Partly based on protonup.
Run chmod +x on it if your file manager complains. Then double-click to launch it. ProtonUp-Qt v2.15.1 is available now on GitHub and Flathub.
